Richmond Hill resident says elitism at play in parking ban on street near Oak Ridges trailhead

It is another attempt to ‘pander to the self-centred NIMBY’ factions

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 7, 2020
Sheila Wang

A resident says new parking restrictions on a cul-de-sac near a trailhead in Oak Ridges are “self-centred and elitist.”

Susan Browne spoke out against a recent decision made by Richmond Hill council that bans parking any time on Bridgewater Drive near the Stouffville Road trail entrance to the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve.

“Citizens of Richmond Hill have already been hit by deaths, illness and disability, social isolation, job and business losses and council chose to hit citizens further with parking tickets. Brilliant,” the resident wrote in a letter to council.

Browne, who does not live in the neighbourhood, said she and many other Richmond Hill residents have been frequent users of the Jefferson Forest trails.

The parking ban that went into effect on Oct. 28 struck Browne as another attempt to “pander to the self-centred NIMBY” factions over the well-being of the vast majority of citizens when many other recreational activities, such as gym and yoga classes, were closed in the throes of COVID-19, she said.

The new restrictions made it difficult for residents from the rest of Richmond Hill to enjoy the conservation area because there were limited parking opportunities, Browne noted.

Her opposition failed to sway the votes as council adopted the motion put forward by Coun. Castro Liu unanimously at the Oct. 28 meeting as a time-sensitive and urgent matter.

Liu said the residents of Bridgewater made numerous complaints about traffic congestion resulting from parking on the street as well as increases in garbage, property damage and break-ins this year.

He said 17 homeowners -- more than 90 per cent of the neighbourhood -- signed the petition to ban parking. Residents had the right to file the request if they collected 75 per cent of petition, and there was no need to consult residents outside of the neighbourhood, he said.

“I just think it’s really tone-deaf and unfair and elitist,” Browne said, finding the issues overstated. “I never saw cars parked on both sides.”
While there wasn’t statistics in the area readily available, York Regional Police spokesperson Andy Pattenden said residential break and enters were “down considerably” in Richmond Hill during COVID-19.

Coun. Liu said he acted on behalf of the residents in his ward to table the motion under the advice of the city clerk, as staff who reviewed the situation indicated that on-street parking on both sides of Bridgewater Drive led to insufficient pavement width to accommodate emergency vehicle access and two-way traffic flow.

Browned said the response was “disingenuous” and she never saw cars parked on both sides.

“We need to balance the needs of outdoor recreational users against the increased health and safety risks to residents who live near the trail,” Liu wrote to The Liberal on Dec. 2, noting parking was reduced to one side of the street back in July which wasn't effective in addressing the problem.

As a residential street, he said, Bridgewater had never been designated as official parking for the Jefferson Forest trails.

Stouffville Road continues to be available for public parking as well as several other access points into the trail that provide designated parking facilities.

“It’s unfortunate that people at times are so ignorant,” Coun. Greg Beros who seconded Liu's motion, said. “It’s unbelievable when you take a look at some of these streets and what these people leave there.”

Beros also moved to enforce a parking ban on another street, Dariole Drive, which he said has been dealing with the same issue. Parking on both sides of Dariole from Bayview Avenue to the south limit of Denarius Crescent will be restricted from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. between April 1 and Sept. 30.

“Is this a solution to a problem of people wanting recreation?” Browne asked. “Toronto is creating all these trails and places for people to go and have recreation and all we’re doing is shutting down recreation for people in Richmond Hill.”

The parking lots near Jefferson Forest trails were often overflown, Browne said, with the closest one at Old Colony Road accommodating about 20 cars.

Instead of reducing parking, the resident suggested the city should work with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to explore and expand other parking opportunities and maintain garbage and recycling at entrances to conservation areas during the pandemic.